Evaluating the Inauguration and Orientation Programs of the Syekh Nurjati Global Excellent Scholarship (SN-GES) 2025 Cohort: Strategic Observations and Recommendations by Lala Bumela, Ph.D. for the Global Engagement Team
Cirebon, September, 12th 2025 — After successfully completing the inauguration on 11 and 12 September 2025 and delivering a series of workshops and socialization sessions during the orientation for the international recipients of the Syekh Nurjati Global Excellent Scholarship (SN-GES) 2025, Lala Bumela, Ph.D. Director of the International Office and Partnership of UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon, held an evaluation meeting with the Global Engagement Team (GET)—the internship-based unit supporting the International Office. Under the theme “Chasing Dreams, Pursuing Knowledge: Architect of Wisdom in a Cyber Era,” the team coordinated the welcoming of 12 international awardees: Arif Yeekajik (Thailand), Tasneem Wado (Thailand), Babou Seck (Senegal), Hamdi Mujeb Thabet Sharaf (Yemen), Jadene Querod Zainal (Philippines), Maja Asleah Lindongoan Salisipan (Philippines), Nadja Querod Cabuayo (Philippines), Paojia Cabuayo Sucatan (Philippines), plus four students from Nigeria who have not yet arrived due to conflict and immigration issues but are expected soon. The GET members—interns from various faculties who formed the operational backbone of the International Office—were all present at the evaluation session. “I am truly proud of you all because you are the key to the success of this entire program,” Lala Bumela said at the outset, underscoring that the achievement belonged as much to the GET as to the scholarship itself.
During the two-day program on 11 and 12 September, the International Office, supported by the GET team, executed a comprehensive schedule that combined ceremonial, academic, and cultural components. The activities included official introductions, workshops to build academic readiness, socialization sessions from Ma’had al-Jami’ah, the Rumah Moderasi Beragama, and BIPA (Bahasa Indonesia for Foreign Speakers), and practical guidance to help the international students adapt to the cyber-university environment. Behind every agenda item, GET members handled timekeeping, registration, logistics, documentation, and real-time support for participants. Their coordinated effort allowed the university to present itself as both globally minded and locally grounded, with seamless transitions between sessions and a welcoming atmosphere.
In his evaluation remarks, Lala Bumela singled out the GET’s professionalism and initiative as the driving force behind the smooth execution of these activities. “When I see how you arranged the inauguration, supported the socialization sessions, and maintained composure under pressure, I see an outstanding model of how a cyber-based Islamic university can still deliver a personal, human touch,” he stated. This comment reflected his broader strategic view: that internationalization is not merely a policy but a practice—one that depends on people like the GET interns translating the International Office’s plans into meaningful experiences for students and partners.
The evaluation also highlighted the technical and organizational innovations introduced during the program. From digital registration and document verification to on-site coordination and post-event reporting, the GET had demonstrated that a student-internship team could handle complex, high-profile tasks with discipline and creativity. Lala Bumela stressed that this experience would serve as a valuable foundation for refining future orientations and mentoring new GET members. The team’s ability to adapt, improvise, and maintain professionalism in an international setting set a benchmark for how UIN SSC can operationalize its global engagement strategies.
Looking ahead, the program was not yet complete. On 13 September, the campus tour remained as the final stage of the orientation. Lala Bumela explained that this activity would give international students a spatial and symbolic understanding of UIN SSC as a cyber-based yet community-rooted university, and would also provide an opportunity for the GET to demonstrate its guiding and facilitation skills. By integrating evaluation moments into each stage, the International Office sought to ensure that both students and staff gained new insights, making the orientation a learning cycle for everyone involved.
In his closing words at the evaluation meeting, Lala Bumela reiterated his gratitude and encouragement to the GET team. “You have shown that with dedication, coordination, and empathy, a demanding program can become an inspiring experience for everyone involved,” he said. “As we move into the campus tour tomorrow and plan for future initiatives, keep this momentum and this spirit—you are not simply assisting; you are shaping how UIN SSC engages with the world.” His remarks underscored that while the SN-GES 2025 cohort embodies the university’s international aspirations, it is the diligent work of the Global Engagement Team that makes those aspirations tangible. Through this evaluation, he not only offered praise but also positioned the GET as architects of the institution’s global engagement in a cyber era.
Author: Muhammad Azkiya Bahtsulkhoir